Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 455 Pierre wants to open a factory in Riga (Part 032)

When thinking about this issue, we also have to take into account the location of Riga, after all, it is a port.

The grain trade in the Baltic Sea was long controlled by the Hanseatic League. In essence, the series of land and sea battles between Sweden and Russia in the eastern Baltic Sea were all fought over the dominance of the Baltic trade.

The development of Sweden and Russia has a lot to do with their dominance in grain trade.

This is also why Prussia has always coveted the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom. Finally, it pulled in Russia to bully Austria and forced it to surrender.

Although "my cousin also did it", the evil Prussia does not seem to have any responsibility because of the huge Russia. It can only be said that there is no Poland at all.

But after Napoleon entered the scene, it was obvious that overseas trade would also be greatly affected.

In addition to the manor, Pierre's assets in Riga also include the resources of the Riga Chamber of Commerce left by his father.

Speaking of which, if it were someone else, who, as an illegitimate child, obtained the status of Earl and his huge fortune, he would have been laid down long ago.

But Pierre, who looks like a fat otaku, is always ambitious and determined to make changes.

Such quality is indeed very valuable.

If we really compare them, the people of the Kurakin family...
"If you were here, Pierre, and you were doing export-oriented trade, it would depend on which side, France or Britain, has the upper hand. If a peace treaty can be finally concluded this year, you would engage in the trade of exporting grain and raw materials to France and Prussia. If the country of Prussia can still exist, the entire country has been plundered by the French and it really needs to be revived. If you import grain into Prussia at this time, you can help the King of Prussia to stabilize grain prices. Fortunately for His Majesty King Frederick William, there are only the two of us here, and I can say that he is a little incompetent. But the queen is very knowledgeable, and I visited this beautiful and respectable lady many times in Jelgava."

Of course, further development is unlikely, as the one who had been having an affair with him recently was Maria, and Queen Louise now seems to be very loyal to her marriage and has a good relationship with her husband.

"But they all live in our country now, and the war with France is going on."

"I hope we can win. If that's the case, perhaps I, the chief of staff of the East Prussian Army, can speak for you directly. Although we are both in the palace, your position as a eunuch is just a nominal one, but as the teacher of the two Grand Dukes, I still have a real position."

"Of course. When I arrived in Petersburg, I heard at the palace that His Highness Nicholas had made great progress in his studies recently."

Pierre came from Petersburg to bring Nikolai's recent performance
"That's not in vain. By the way, Pierre, if this war ends in failure or peace, Russia's biggest loss would probably be Napoleon's Continental Blockade, which would damage the interests of those who rely on trade with Britain."

"In the Riga Chamber of Commerce there is indeed such an opinion, which leans towards France on one hand and England on the other."

"Businessmen are always two-faced, but those of us who are in the 14th-level official rank must always have our own stance. Pierre, if possible, you can consider doing the timber and grain business in the next few years. This is the traditional export business. In addition, you can build factories and form an industrial chain of processing industry in Riga."

“What is an industrial chain?”

"It's like a river, divided into the upper reaches, midstream and lower reaches. This is an industrial chain. Raw materials and some basic processing are here. A certain degree of fine processing is here. And those places downstream."

However, Solovyov used the metaphor of a river, which is somewhat different from the actual upstream and downstream supply.

But Pierre could understand it. After all, during the past few years in Paris, he had not been able to attend salons and banquets hosted by bankers' wives for nothing.

With his character, it's not like the French to go there.
But Solovyov did it, even though Madame Recamier had moved to St. Petersburg on her own.

"If that's the case, we still have to have an exit. Pierre, I think you should answer this question now."

"You mean me?"

"Yes, after all, the reason we let you invest is to make money, not to make you lose money."

As friends, Pierre and Andrei may be more intimate, but in terms of interests, Solovyov, who comes from a family of profiteers, can help him more.

"Well, I can try Misha. If we only export raw materials, the profit is not that great. But if we process semi-finished or even finished products, I think Russia can't always be a raw material exporter to others."

"What's strange is that Britain had a good relationship with us during the Queen's time, but we have no place in the international trade system dominated by the British. For Russia, we have almost all kinds of raw materials, but the British always have other places to get them. They can even exclude us from this system if they want. In essence, we still need to have good relations with those German princes. This is also the trade chain we need."

Although Pierre might have some misunderstandings when I continued to explain this seemingly plausible thing to him, he was a good listener and even an obedient executor.

He also respected his friend's opinion, and he kept nodding as Solovyov continued speaking.

"It's just that the war with France always makes people see no hope. Or, if the French are willing, what they are doing in Italy and Germany can also be extended to other places."

"In order to compete, Napoleon not only wants to weaken the British and implement the Continental Blockade. He also wants to take this opportunity to weaken his competitors in Europe. Although this will cause him great losses, killing one thousand enemies but losing eight hundred of his own, and even lose more than the gains in the short term, and will also condone smuggling trade, it can still achieve his goal. If Napoleon's ambitions are not too inflated, we can even help him."

When Solovyov said this, he did not consider that Napoleon was his uncle and the child's second uncle. It was just a conversation between Pierre's friend, a Russian general and one of the richest people in Russia.

Of course, Solovyov actually wanted to make some small contributions, such as prohibiting the military from engaging in business.

Although there was a bit of double standards in this regard, Solovyov himself tried not to move. He let his father run the business, and he only came up with inventions and ideas, and obtained some franchises.

Riga's location is closer to the Russian border and is more suitable for export-oriented industries.

However, considering Sweden and Denmark which are right next door, Denmark can do things more conveniently when the relationship with France is good.

When things are going well with the UK, Sweden is also an option.

In short, Russia's diplomacy and trade should be more flexible. Moreover, there is an alternative northern route.
Although Solovyov always claimed to be from Ryazan, his family moved here from Arkhangelsk, which was where his family made its fortune, and they also had many relatives from that hometown.

But it is undeniable that in Sweden, with King Gustavus in the picture, it is hard to say what will happen.

If it weren't for Bernadotte's preferential treatment of prisoners, the Swedes would not have changed their royal family, right?
For Louisa's sake, Sweden might be beaten, but it cannot be beaten to death and let outsiders take advantage of it.

Therefore, Solovyov still has a lot to consider. And the most unstable factor on the Baltic Sea side is probably this guy.

However, so far, due to the face of his relatives, Alexander would not do anything to him, even if it would embarrass his wife and sister.

But if he wants to die, there’s no way to stop him.

It seems that Gustavus of Sweden was born to oppose Russia. If the peace brought about by defeat is the big one, it is inevitable.

As for the future?
"But what you think of is only foreign trade. We haven't even mentioned the factory yet."

"On the one hand, there is food processing, and on the other hand, there is setting up stores locally. Is this the only way to supply goods?"

First of all, what Solovyov wanted to deny the most was the opening of supermarkets in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

What he thought of more were department stores like Qiulin Company.

Although the squid content of this company's origin is as high as it can be, its operation is still quite instructive.

Locally established factories for local supply were the norm for early department stores.

Russia is so large that from the time of Kievan Rus to a series of principalities such as Novgorod and Moscow, there have been serious supply problems.

The problem was that when Vasily went to get food, he didn't have a carriage, so transportation and storage were very difficult.

Moreover, given Russia's traditionally backward productivity, it often ends up producing inferior products.

Therefore, in order to promote it, farmers need to have certain knowledge so that they can improve their products.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be a self-taught master like Michurin. It's just that his theory, after being carried forward by later generations, has become the "Ivan next door" doctrine, which has completely gone astray.

Solovyov also knew that he had some talent in the military, and if he were to run a business in peacetime, there would be no problem in building relationships or operating the business with the mindset of a general staff.

However, with the financial resources of their "nouveau riche" family, it is indeed not enough.

The most valuable thing about Pierre is his heart of gold, but what makes him most familiar in social situations is his
A rich, kind-hearted fat man!

However, this suggestion to Pierre can only be made within Russia, where the economy is relatively developed and the citizens have a certain level of consumption and purchasing power.

Before 1812, there was no need to think about running too many businesses in Moscow.

But the Baltic Sea coast is very suitable.

Especially in these places, the Baltic Germans and locals always have a certain consumption capacity, which is very different from the situation in inland Russia.

If Pierre wanted, he could run it slowly, starting with Riga and St. Petersburg, and then expand the system to Russia and even move it abroad.

After all, given his asset level, in this era when logistics are not yet developed, his ability to resist losses is still very strong.

Even if a daughter-in-law like Helen cheated him out of a large sum of money, it could not shake his position as the richest man in Moscow.

In addition to this consideration, Solovyov also considered Pierre and hoped that his assets would be transferred out of Moscow, at least not along the popular route chosen by Napoleon and the Moustache.

Wait until everything is over, then choose to return to Moscow, and in this way you can also bring the department store's business model to Moscow.

Let’s not talk about other places for now, but St. Petersburg and Moscow, these two places have the most wealthy masters, and in addition there are also large groups of citizens.

From the low end to the high end, the chain is still very clear.

"As for the whole plan, Pierre, I will help you plan the establishment of the department store after I return from the battlefield. But before that, we still need to try to control the local supply chain. Riga is just the first step."

"Yes, I can see what you mean."

"But I'm only telling you this idea. When it comes to actually putting it into practice, you still need reliable people. If you have any business problems, Andrei and his family are now in Tongshan, Smolensk. Maybe he can help you manage internal affairs. As for hiring a manager, don't hire someone who cheats the owner but enriches himself. Even Prince Potemkin's family has encountered such people."

He said so, and Pierre knew it in his mind. After all, this kind of people were what he had the most.

At the same time, because of his personal character, he has a lot of friends around him. Even if you remove those bad friends from the past, he still has some real friends.

Even that Dolokhov was somewhat absurd.

Pierre's assets in Riga and the huge businesses his father left behind across Russia are indeed enviable.

Someone would always inherit the property, and this was often discussed in the salons when Count Bezukhov was dying.

Compared to letting the Kuragins squander their fortune, Pierre was willing to do something that would put this huge fortune in the right place, both for his own personal benefit and for the future.

Of course, Solovyov would never have thought that what he had told Pierre was just the beginning of an industrial plan.

What Pierre could accomplish in the future was beyond his imagination.

(End of this chapter)